Home page News
Metropolitan Hilarion addresses faculty and studen…

Metropolitan Hilarion addresses faculty and students of Al-Azhar University in Cairo

[gallery]On 13 June 2011, in the course of his working visit to Egypt, Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited Al-Azhar, the largest university in the Muslim world. Accompanying Metropolitan Hilarion were archimandrite Leonid (Gorbachev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa; Mr. I. Molotkov, minister-counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Egypt; and members of the delegation.

Metropolitan Hilarion was met at the University by the President of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates, Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Fadil al-Qusi, and Sheikh Ali Abdel Baki. Metropolitan Hilarion met with the faculty and students at the conference hall.

Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Fadil al-Qusi opened the meeting, saying, ‘The correct understanding of religion can give the world that what it lacks and can also open the eyes of humanity and revive moral sentiments. The role of religion in society should be clearly defined.’

In his address, “Muslims and Christians in the modern world” translated into Arabic, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his hope that his visit to Al-Azhar will continue a dialogue that has begun by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia during his visit to the University in April 2010.

Metropolitan Hilarion pointed out that fomenting of interreligious conflicts is of artificial nature and expressed his wish to think, together with the audience, about an answer of the people of faith to challenges of the secular world and about rebuffing attempts to foment intereligious conflicts made by those trying to distort old foundations. Among them are representatives of certain pseudo-Christians sects opposing interreligious dialogue or committing blasphemous assaults upon that what is sacred for Islam. Metropolitan Hilarion explained that these people should not be identified with the Orthodox and the Copts “who respect Islam and never ever offended anything sacred for the Muslims.” The DECR chairman pointed out at the danger of extremism for both Christians and Muslims. As to the social teaching of Islam and Christianity, he mentioned the necessity of “opposing the destructive secular ideology and upholding family values and traditional morality.”

The audience has shown profound interest in the lecture. Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Fadil al-Qusi said that the listeners have found many points of common ground and called for joining efforts to oppose the vices of contemporary society.

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III: Ukrainian government’s support for schism and persecution of the major canonical Church is a religious pogrom against the faithful Orthodox Christians of that country

24.07.2024

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrates the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Tver.

21.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Liturgy at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius on the commemoration day of the saint

18.07.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church celebrates All-night Vigil at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

17.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius and reads akathist to the saint

17.07.2024

Patriarchal condolences on the death of Boris A. Nelyubov

14.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria on his election and enthronement

30.06.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Met with the Released Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav

25.06.2024

Patriarch Kirill led the bringing of the icon of the Holy Trinity, painted by the Venerable Andrei Rublev, to the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

22.06.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with senior Russian Protestants

18.06.2024

Patriarch Kirill's Congratulations to Prime-Minister Narendra Modi on His Re-election as Head of the Government of India

12.06.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with students of Higher Diplomatic Courses

04.06.2024

Reception at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on the Occasion of the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture and the Name Day of the Primate of the Russian Church takes place

24.05.2024

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations meets with Slovenian Ambassador to Russia

30.08.2024

DECR chairman congratulates head of the Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of the Caucasus on the occasion of his 7th birthday.

26.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

Holy Synod deems it expedient that Working Group for Cooperation between the Russian Church and Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs should continue its work

25.07.2024

Holy Synod recognizes importance of resuming theological consultations with Assyrian Church of the East

25.07.2024

Session of commission for international cooperation under the Russian Presidential Council for Interaction with Religious Associations takes place.

23.07.2024

DECR chairman meets with representative of the Macedonian Orthodox Church

23.07.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with the Syrian ambassador to Russia.

22.07.2024

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations meets with a delegation from Lebanon.

22.07.2024

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrates the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Tver.

21.07.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church celebrates All-night Vigil at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

17.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius and reads akathist to the saint

17.07.2024

Head of DECR Meets with Ambassador of Argentina in the Russian Federation

16.07.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk expresses condolences on the death of decades-long DECR worker Boris Nelyubov

13.07.2024

DECR chairman visits Moscow Metochion of the Patriarchate of Antioch

27.06.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب